Former E Timor minister jailed over 2006 unrest

The former interior minister of East Timor, Rogerio Lobato, has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years for his role in serious civil unrest last May.

A panel of three judges in Dili found Lobato guilty of manslaughter, abuse of power and of distributing weapons illegally to militias in an attempt to eliminate opponents of the government.

Prosecutors said he had distributed police uniforms, weapons and ammunition to a group of civilians led by Vincente da Conceicao - also known as Commander Railos.

A lawyer for Lobato, Paulo Remexio, said he would appeal.

"We don't accept the sentence," he told reporters.

Violence broke out in the impoverished tiny country last May after the Government sacked 600 mutinous members of East Timor's 1,400-strong army.

At least 20 people were killed in the violence, which led to the resignation of the then prime minister, Mari Alkatiri and the deployment of an international peacekeeping force.

Prosecutors dropped similar charges against Mr Alkatiri because of lack of evidence.

Mr Alkatiri attended the court session.

A report released last October by a UN-appointed Independent Special Commission of Inquiry called for further investigation to determine whether Mr Alkatiri should face criminal charges for fomenting the violence.